Tag: heart

Wisdom – Our Thoughts, Heart and Prayers

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Saturday, October 14, 2023, and I was blessed to be at Advent Christian Village, Dowling Park, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE GOD’S WORD Translation (GW) IS FOUND IN Proverbs 15:26; 28-29;

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: The thoughts of evil people are disgusting to the Lord, but pleasant words are pure to him.
The heart of a righteous person carefully considers how to answer, but the mouths of wicked people pour out a flood of evil things.
The Lord is far from wicked people, but he hears the prayers of righteous people.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: I believe that way too often we overlook the fact that Solomon’s words of wisdom in Proverbs was ordained by God, just as John 3:16 and other Scriptures in the Holy Bible. So, when God got my attention to our key verses today, I felt like He wanted to remind me of a few things in my character that could bless Him and evoke blessings from Him, as well as see things that might deter His blessings on me. In sharing these thoughts with you, I believe that many of you – my readers and/or listeners. are probably not a whole lot different to me and will also be challenged by the Word of God. Each verse seems to concentrate on distinctive parts of our being:
-> Our THOUGHTS – Before you question whether God knows our thoughts, let me give you just a few independent verses where scripture writers cleared this up for us: In Psalm 139:1-2, David tells us: “O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.” Isaiah 55:8 states, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.” In Psalm 139:23–24, we can read a humble cry for God’s presence in our lives, ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!’. Now, in our above verse, Solomon assures us that God is very unhappy with the evil thoughts of the wicked, but from the righteous, He is blessed by our outward expression of a pure heart and the pleasant words that exude from our mouths.
-> Our HEARTS – From the heart of a righteous man – one who is right with God and lives for His glory, God is honored to see how we carefully analyze a situation, and a person’s emotion, before we answer. To the contrary, God is not at all happy with the evil person who is careless about what they say or are deliberate in calculating hurt towards someone by what they say. If I’m ever tempted to not show love, I tend to use these scenarios as a barometer to help me see if I’m going off track and allowing Satan unwanted access to my heart. Let’s be sure that we stay consistent in pleasing God, regardless of how much we detest a person, what they stand for, and what they probably want to achieve through the words they speak to us and the evil looks that accompany their words. To have the heart of Jesus, we will always display words and actions that portray His love for His children.
-> Our PRAYERS – Although distant to the unrighteous, praise God for the reminder that He listens carefully to the prayers of the righteous. What an awesome reminder and encouragement to always stand closely tuned to God through our deep and sincere prayers to Him! In good relationships, we tend to communicate more. Oh that we will always pour out our heart to our loving Lord and Savior.
What awesome reminders that our God knows our heart, is pleased with our thoughts and listens for our prayers as He stands ready to answer in full accord with His perfect will for us!

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord, You created us and You know us better than we know ourselves. Thank You for using the wisdom that you gave to Your servant, Solomon, for Your children to be reminded today about how patient, loving and kind You are. You know our thoughts, our heart and still You are willing to listen to our meager acts of worship and our many excuses for failing to spend adequate time with You and obey Your commands. Thank You for being our kind and faithful Father. Please continue to impress upon us the need to obey Your commands and follow Your will for our lives, for You have much better things in store for us after our battles here on earth with the evil one. Please allow us to become so much like You that the unsaved will be reassured of a Savior because they see the evidence in us. Lord, may we never be a stumbling block to anyone that we interact with, for instead be genuine witnesses and representatives of Yours. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby your home and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Saying The Right Thing

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Fruit of the Spirit, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2022-12-29
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 6:44-45
TRANSLATION: New International Version (NIV)

BIBLE TEXT: 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

APPLICATION: In the technical arena we tend to say about the quality of computer data: ‘garbage in, garbage out’! I believe that children and adults are the same way, for if your child is given the opportunity at a very young age to hear calm and satisfying reading, quality teachings and people around them that care about, and love them, then I believe that they will have a chance at success in their personal lives, and their education – that often leads to success in their relationships, their workplace and their circle of friends. Jesus knew that His children would be easily swayed by Satan and that it may often come through the friends we make that load up our ‘bucket’ (heart) with hatred, revenge and paybacks that are not pleasing to our Father, nor does it conform with His teachings. I believe that today we are challenged by our Father to consider a few things:
1. Based of the fruit others see, what type of tree will the world identify us as? Will they find enough evidence to convict us of being aligned with our Master and Lord – a Christian?
2. If our bucket (heart) is filled with the teachings of Christ and looks like the example He set for us, will our fruit, or our character show such things as love – even to those who refuse to love us? Will they see mercy, even if we feel deep inside that the person doesn’t deserve it? Will they see grace, because they see our humility and forgiveness even towards those who aim at showing us up, or attempting to destroy our character?
Dear friends, I am prompted to look closer at what I fill my heart with each day, and I would sincerely suggest that you do the same. For, from that input, we are filling our hearts with values that we will draw from in our speech, our attitude and our actions. Jesus wants us to look like, act like and speak like Him so that the unsaved will see evidence of His existence in our lives. If you fall short in achieving this ideal, then you may need to join me in seeking God’s help – daily. We all have a purpose here on earth. May our purpose always be so surrendered to Jesus Christ, that He will ensure that the world sees Jesus, and not the old person we used to be.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God knows how unfaithful we are in filling our heart with His love and instruction each day, yet He is patient in working on us to change our ways and commit ourselves to Him more fully. Praise God for our loving Savior – the One that we serve!

PRAYER: Lord, I pray that first and foremost we will be recognized by our Father as one of His own. Help us to never grow so stagnant in our faith that the world loses sight of who You are. Please teach us daily to depend on You – as a constant reminder of how important you are to us and how we can’t live a day without You. May You become such a valued presence in our lives that it will be virtually impossible to look on us without seeing the work of the Holy Spirit working in and through us. Some may never enter the church doors, but as the church operates in the world, may it be evident to the unsaved that the Holy Spirit is at work within us, drawing the lost to its Shepherd – the Great I Am – the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. All glory to You dear Lord, today and always! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

How’s Your Heart Doing?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Heart, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Thursday, 2021-05-20
WRITTEN AT: Nassau, Bahamas

SCRIPTURE FROM: Mark 7:20-23
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 20 Then Jesus said: What comes from your heart is what makes you unclean. 21 Out of your heart come evil thoughts, vulgar deeds, stealing, murder, 22 unfaithfulness in marriage, greed, meanness, deceit, indecency, envy, insults, pride, and foolishness. 23 All of these come from your heart, and they are what make you unfit to worship God.

APPLICATION: The Pharisees tried hard to keep a thumb on their people that they felt a responsibility for, and as such, they tried to tell them what they thought was right from wrong. Jesus, on the other hand, made it a point of helping mankind think for themselves, using His Word as their guide. This often meant explaining His principles so that the crowd would fully understand what they were reading. This is very similar in what honest, Bible-teaching churches are trying to accomplish today. In today’s Scripture, Jesus wanted His audience, and us, to understand that many rules are made to supposedly help people live according to His commands. For example, some teach that the foods you eat will defile your body, and may even defile your relationship with God through disobedience to the old laws of Moses. While Jesus did not bash the teachers of His day, He went on to explain why a proper understanding of His commands was way more important. While some foods may make certain people sick, and they may choose to refrain from eating that particular item ever again, Jesus is way more concerned about our heart, and He wasn’t referring to heart disease! When Jesus taught about the ‘heart’, He referred to the very soul and being of mankind. This is why Christians say that they invited Jesus into their ‘heart’, meaning into their soul and being. So according to the teachings of Jesus, we are to be more concerned about what things affect our ‘hearts’. Unlike many other questions where the answer is left up to man’s opinion and interpretation, Jesus actually gave us several things that will result from a ‘heart’ exposed to sin and opposition to His teachings. So I would encourage you to meditate with me in considering what sorts of things provoke us into doing the things mentioned in verses 21 and 22, for those are the things that cause us to sin, because they directly impact the ‘heart’ of man. Further, we must clearly understand that when we react to these things in the examples given by Jesus, we are really out of fellowship with Him and would truly hurt His heart to see us in acts of worship with such unconfessed sin impacting our emotions and our reactions to things of this life. Friends, I believe that we can all discern that such conditions of our ‘heart’ cannot be corrected by a mother, spouse, good friend nor our pastor, for we can hide these things from almost every other person on earth. As already stated, these things prevent us from having an open and sincere relationship with our Maker, so our sin is really against the One who gave His very life for us. Pretending to the world that everything is good with you and your relationship with Jesus Christ, is about the worse thing you can do, and bear upon yourself. Throughout the Word of God, we are told that we all will sin while here on earth among sinners. However, the Bible goes on to tell us how to deal with that sin. For Christians, the Holy Spirit – that part of God that lives inside of the Christian, will prompt us to seek forgiveness from the Father. For the unbeliever who does not know God, you are constantly being prompted to personally see God, and draw close to Him by accepting His Son, Jesus. Surely you would never ask a stranger for such a daunting thing as forgiveness of your sin. So let me encourage you to seek the Lord while you still have breath and abilities to do so. Become fit to meet the King of all kings, and then enjoy the benefits of heaven one day. My God will never fail you, my friend! He created you, He loves you unconditionally, and He has a place prepared for you when life here on earth is over. But you must personally accept Him as Lord and Savior. If you can remember the time when you surrendered your life to His lordship, then praise Him for His goodness and reconcile any sin that may hinder your relationship with Him.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Only God can forgive us of our sin and give us the peace that we are destined for our eternal home with Him in glory. He loves us unconditionally!

PRAYER: Thank You dear Lord for Your unconditional love. Please forgive us that wait for others to fix our issues, and draw us close to You, Your Word, and a clear understanding of everything that corrupts our relationship with You. Please Lord, deal in the heart of the one who may read this devotion and have not accepted You as Lord yet. Draw them to Yourself and convict them of their sin. Touch the heart of each believer that may be reminded of Your caution today. Please help us all to keep an open, honest and clear relationship with You. May our ‘hearts’ be clear of earthly hindrances, because of You and because of Your almighty power. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

The Greatest Commandment

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Love, Love God, Love your Neighbor, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Unconditional love, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Sunday, 2021-03-21
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 22:36-40
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 
Pharisees: 36 Teacher, of all the laws, which commandment is the greatest?Jesus (quoting Scripture): 37 “Love the Eternal One your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind.”[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is nearly as important, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[d] 40 The rest of the law, and all the teachings of the prophets, are but variations on these themes.

OBSERVATION: Although the Pharisees were trying to test Jesus, they asked a very logical question. Jesus’ response is still applicable to us today, so let’s see how we’re doing with the two commandments Jesus considered most important.

APPLICATION: It seems natural for us to worry more about the most important laws, or the most critical infractions we want to avoid. Take speeding for example: In the US we know that we could get away with doing no more than 5 miles over the speed limit, so we will often break the law, but by no more than 5mph, so we don’t get a ticket. Isn’t it the same with God’s laws? It seems ok to take a few pencils or paperclips home from work, but not $100, even though both are stealing. It seems OK to tell a lie, but we wouldn’t ever consider murder, although both are sins. Notice how Jesus set an example for us in quoting Scripture when responding to questions from those trying to test us. He did it to Satan when tempted by him in the desert, and he responds similarly now to the Pharisees. Why is that? Personal opinions are dime a dozen, for everyone has at least one! However, when we quote ‘thus says the Lord’, we are allowing God’s Word to answer why we believe the way we do. I found it interesting that Jesus chose not only the two commandments that epitomize God’s love and His wish for His children, but also the two commandments that all others are based on. In other words, if we get these two right, and if we exceed expectations in response to these two, then no one should have reason to judge us of missing the mark with the other commandments. To love the Lord: With all our heart – is to devote the very core of our being (our heart) to loving our Creator and our Lord; With all our soul – is to love God from the deepest parts of our being, knowing that no one deserves our love more than He does; With all our mind – is to know that our love for God is unconditional, meaning that we will love Him no matter what is going on in life, because our mind is fixed on Him. On the second most important commandment, Jesus tells us that it is equally important as the first, for a child of God who loves His Maker, will also love all that He made. To dislike our neighbor is like saying that God messed up in creating them. Of course they will be different to us in many ways, but in loving them, we soon learn to love the variety of people and things that God created. This widens our spectrum of appreciation for our Creative God. As we love our (different) neighbor, we become better prepared to approach nonbelievers who need Jesus. Remember, God made them, so we should love them! Please note that this is not just a nice story about God getting on to the Pharisees. I believe that He is still saying the same thing to you and I today: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind – and your neighbor as you love yourself; for this is God’s greatest wish for you today!

PRAYER: Each day that I read Your Word, I am looking for what’s most important for me that day, from my gracious God. Thank You Lord, for making it plain to me today that I am to love You above everything else, and that I am to love my friends, my relatives and my neighbors as much as I love myself. Lord, please teach my readers and I to love like You love us each and every day. For others need to see Jesus – Your love, Your mercy and Your gracious concern for everyone. They need to see You, and not the wickedness of our earthly beings. May others see You and believe. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

God Knows Your Heart ……… And your Love for Him

On By Ed AlgreenIn All-powerful, Believers, Bible Believing, Bless Others, Blinded by Sin, Christ's Representative, Christ-Like, Christian Living, Christian Principles, Church, Church LeadersLeave a comment

Monday, 2018-11-26

Bible Reference: Revelation 2:4-5
Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

Bible Text: 4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.

OBSERVATION: In this book of Revelation, God is speaking to the seven churches about their condition, and the subsequent result of their condition. For the church at Ephesus, God was pleased with some aspects of their ministry, but in these two verses we can see where God is getting to the root of their ineffectiveness. Let’s pay close attention to this, because I believe we will find God speaking to us about our own respective churches as we study this Book.

APPLICATION: From time to time we hear of many churches that fail for various reasons. Often we will hear of churches declining at such a rate, that it will only be the matter of time before they are forced to close their doors. Friends, churches are made up of folk like you and I, so when we say that our church is failing, I believe that we are really saying that we have become a sorry people. I know, that sounds really harsh. But allow me to challenge myself and you with a few sobering questions: When last have you prayed for your pastor? When last have you attended prayer meetings, to join hearts and souls in prayer about the needs of God’s people? Do you tithe and give generously to the work of the local church? Just like you need money to run your home, so the church needs money to pay salaries, and other operational expenses, plus support worldwide missions. When last have you visited the sick or helped the widow in need? No, that’s not the responsibility of the pastor, for we all should be obedient to the Word of God. Friends, I believe that when the church – you and I, becomes ‘the church’ and we follow the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ, then it will be evident who rules and reigns over us. People still need the Lord, and when they see God at work through His people, then perhaps they will be convinced of His existence and their need to accept Him as Lord. Looking back at our focal verses, we will see that God accused the church at Ephesus of losing their first love. Please take a moment and meditate on the days and weeks following your conversion. Remember how ‘in love’ you were with Jesus? I know, you still love Him, right? But I want you and I to think of the differences that are evident in our love now, compared to our love for Jesus at the time I referred to. What happened? I believe that such an influence of this old world has found its way into our lives, that our actions now portray more of the world than that of the One who saved us. Will the church – we the body, survive and flourish like this? Do people that we touch see more of Christ, or the world? Unless they unmistakably see Christ, let’s not think for a moment that we have a flourishing church. Examine yourselves and draw close to the One who gave up everything for you my friend. Only what’s done for Jesus will truly last!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for not giving up on us. Your Word is a light to our path, because It illuminates our earthly condition, that is often far from the path that You have laid out for Your people. Lord, we want our family and friends to know the Lord, so we want to look and sound more like You in everything we do and say every day. Please touch us once again and draw us close to You. May we become Your hands and feet on the ground, so that our people can see You and experience You when they come into contact with us. AMEN!

Let Nothing Take God’s Place In Your Heart

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Accept Jesus NOW, Accountability, All have sinned, God ReignsLeave a comment

Wednesday, 2018-11-21

Bible Reference: 1 John 5:20-21
Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

Bible Text: 20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God.[e] And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. 21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

OBSERVATION: In the verses leading up to our focal verses, John had gone into depth explaining the presence and importance of knowing Jesus, God’s only Son, and the only Perfect One. However, John also warned his people that they must be aware that Satan is also very real, and that he would try every trick in the book to try and distract those who claim Christ as King of their lives, to mess up and turn the other way. God gave John a cure to share with his folk about this, and I believe it is so applicable to us today. Let’s meditate on this for just a while.

APPLICATION: We are so careful about keeping our babies away from a stove, or a fireplace, or broken glass, because we don’t want to see them get hurt. Yet we work so diligently with our family and friends to see the bright light of Jesus Christ, and as soon as they make a decision, we turn our backs on them and move on to the next person we were praying for. The logical steps are great, for we should concentrate on helping someone else along, but we must constantly remind ourselves that the new Christian is just like the creeping baby that I shared in my example above. Often they will need our loving guidance, and our warnings about the troubled things that they might be distracted by and drawn into. However, while here on this earth, all of us are subject to the same temptations, because we are all prone to interference by the evil one. I would have two things that might encourage our walk towards righteousness: 1). Flood our lives with the Word of God. For that is where we receive our Godly direction and wisdom from, and that is where we learn about how Jesus overcame temptation, and in spite of it, yet He walked a righteous and sinless life, and 2). Let us strive to live out verse 21 above. Being careful to let nothing take the place of God in our hearts. We do this by making sure that our hearts are constantly filled with God, therefore there is no room for anything else. To the unsaved, or uncommitted friend that may be reading this devotional today, let me encourage you to seriously consider reaching beyond the troubles and trials of this world, seek Jesus – the King of all kings, and Lord of all lords, and allow Him to rule and reign in your life. He created you, and He is desperately waiting for you to join Him some day in glory to spend eternity with He and His Father! That’s awesome news, but be warned my friend, the Word of God is clear that heaven is reserved for those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Won’t you do that today my precious friend? Please read through, and follow my Footnote, and if you don’t know a Bible teaching pastor, please drop me a note so that I can pray with you as you begin this relationship. I would be honored to welcome you into the family and pray for you!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for accepting me as Your Son. Thank You for forgiveness of sin – even mine. Lord, You are so, so good to me! I also thank You for the reminder from John today, and I ask for Your ongoing guidance to help me stay totally focused on You and Your Word. May my life be so filled with Your goodness, mercy and grace, that Satan will find no room there. Lord, as readers meditate on these thoughts today, please speak gently to them and give them direction to help them live strong, noble and righteously for You every day. Please also touch the heart of the one that might come across this devotional that may not know You as Lord. Convict them, and lead them to a decision to accept You as Lord today, please? AMEN!

Greatest Need To Take Before Our Master

On By Ed AlgreenIn Distractions, Greatest Need, Sin, SurrenderLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (The Contemporary English Version – John 2:23-25): 23 In Jerusalem during Passover many people put their faith in Jesus, because they saw him work miracles. 24 But Jesus knew what was in their hearts, and he would not let them have power over him. 25 No one had to tell him what people were like. He already knew.

THOUGHTS: It seems to me that it is very much like us to chat with Jesus primarily about all of the issues that our friends appear to have, at least in our eyes. After reading these verses this morning, I am reminded that my first obligation is to walk humbly before my God and plead the blood of Jesus upon all the issues that distract me from a closer walk with the Lord. I may have concern for my family and friends, but as an old spiritual reads, “It’s me standing in the need of prayer“. Friends, when we stand before the master, let’s remember that there is no one that we could think of, no matter what their physical needs are, that is more in need of prayer than ourselves. In the particular case referenced in these Bible verses Jesus had performed various miracles, and the eyes of the people were opened to the awesome power of the Son of God. This softened their hearts to place their faith in Jesus – praise the Lord! However, just as in our case today, Jesus knew that they needed constant help and power from Him every day to overcome the power of Satan and the temptations of the world, so He was cautiously accepting their faith, I believe, because the Word says “BUT He knew their hearts”. Friends, we are very easily swayed into making decisions and saying things to God that ‘rolls off the tongue’ easily, but God knows that we could awaken tomorrow with added temptations and/or trials that might cause us to easily sway, or do things that totally oppose Him and His desire for our lives. To overcome this, I believe it is important for us to have daily communion with God. Let’s ask Him for strength and direction for the day. Let’s ask Him to keep Satan at bay, so that we might truly concentrate on our Master and our Lord, and represent Him well before a lost world. Let’s ask Him to fix our minds on Him so that He, knowing our hearts, can trust us to be faithful to the end. To the uncommitted one who might be reading this devotional, may I introduce you to my Savior, and encourage you to have faith in the only One who holds the keys to our eternity in heaven? Please read my ‘Footnote’ for help on this. I would love to hear from you and pray with you!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You know our heart, yet You loved us enough to die a sacrificial death for us so that we would have the means to eternity in heaven with You and our Father. Thank You for such love. Please continue to work with us as we walk this mean, cruel earth where Satan is wondering around and interfering with Your children. We need Your power to overcome the temptation and sin that face us every day. We want to be trusted, and totally dedicated to Your will, especially while still here on this earth, because we believe that You can use us to touch the lives of those that we have connections with. Please forgive us of our past sins, and empower us with Your strength and determination to live our lives pleasing to You. We need You Lord, and we ask all this in the strong and holy name of Jesus, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or read through Biblical truths on How To Know Jesus, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

From The Heart The Mouth Speaks

On By Ed AlgreenIn Heart, Honesty, WorshipLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (The Contemporary English Version – Matthew 15:17-20): 17 Don’t you know that the food you put into your mouth goes into your stomach and then out of your body? 18 But the words that come out of your mouth come from your heart. And they are what make you unfit to worship God. 19 Out of your heart come evil thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others. 20 These are what make you unclean. Eating without washing your hands will not make you unfit to worship God.

THOUGHTS: Reading the earlier part of this chapter we may tend to condemn the Pharisees for complaining to Jesus about others who chose to eat things they would not dare eat. However, Jesus soon came back at them with the issues they themselves were struggling with. Isn’t that much like us today, where we easily see the fault in others but struggle to acknowledge that we have issues of our own, and/or concede to actually deal with our issues? Jesus really got to the heart, for He reminded the Pharisees, as He does to us, that regardless of the ancillary things that we might do, it’s the intent of the heart and the content of the heart that really matters. Think about it, we might say that we are going to a worship service, and we might even jump in our car and go to the place of corporate worship and go inside the sanctuary, but if the heart is wicked, if it’s filled with evil thoughts, if it’s burning with jealousy or enmity towards our family or friends or coworkers or the preacher or another church member, what type of worship might we possibly offer to God? It just won’t happen friends. Satan might try every trick in the book to trip us up during the week, but if he succeeds in distracting our relationship with God, or breaking down our Godly character before those we love, or cause us to say just about anything that could blurt from our mouths without any respect or love for the individual we are communicating with, then obviously our hearts are more occupied with the things of Satan than of the things of God. Friends, if our hearts belong to God, then we must do everything within our will to keep it filled with the things of God. When we don’t, we leave room for it to become filled with the things of this world (Satan’s playground). I believe a good end of day exercise for all of us would be to seek God’s face and His wisdom to help us reflect on our day and honestly evaluate if our actions and/or our words emanated from a heart filled with God, or of Satan. The Bible teaches us what things God approves of, so this will be an easier task than it may appear to be. Let’s be sure that our hearts are filled with God each day so that our words and our actions will reflect Jesus in every way. To the one reading this who may not have accepted Jesus as Lord, please allow me to lovingly and respectfully tell you that Jesus cannot exist where sin resides, so don’t expect Him to fill your heart until you have invited Him to be Lord of Your heart. Notes in my ‘Footnote’ will help you in making the most important decision of your life. Please allow me to help you find Jesus, the only One who can help you turn your life around and surrender full control to Him.

PRAYER: People all around us need You, oh Lord. But they are extremely challenged to seek You when they don’t see the impact You are making in the lives of Your children. Please help us to be more committed, dedicated and willing to give full control of our heart, mind and soul to You, so that we may become usable vessels that You can work through to reach the lost. They don’t need another fake, they need to see honest and true images of Jesus Christ in everything that we say and/or do. You’re the only One that can help us achieve that oh Lord. Please help us to be willing servants that can be impacted and used by You. I ask these things in the precious and all-powerful name of Jesus, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or read through Biblical truths on How To Know Jesus, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

Purpose Yourself to Worship God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Allegiance, Treasure, WorshipLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (New Living Translation – Matthew 6:19-21): 19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

THOUGHTS: Why do you go to church? Why do you worship God? Did you find God in the corporate worship time? How? – I believe the first two questions would be a good survey to ask folk about to enter a weekend church service, and the last two questions would be great for an exit survey as they are leaving. I believe it would be good for each reader to answer these questions even now! Because you are human, just as I am, I know there are times that we jump out of bed, rush to church, sit back and wait for the entertainment to start. There are times that we have so much going on in our lives that our body attends church, but we hope that no one asks what the preacher spoke about, because we were way too preoccupied solving issues in our minds to hear and apply a word that he said! So how then do we get ourselves in motion and in tune with God? First of all, I believe that worship is a daily, relational thing. It’s a matter of priority, and it’s a deliberate action on the worshiper to think about the Savior of this world and the many blessings that He continually pours out on us. By now you are wondering how all of this ties in with the point of this scripture I bet! Friends, when we place so much of our time and effort into material things, guess where our minds are while our bodies attend church? When we assume control of our finances, instead of allowing God control of this vital part of our existence, we worry about how we will make the budget, and we constantly contemplate where and how we can make more money. It is challenging for us to give God our undivided attention when, in our minds, we have so much else going on. I believe that if we were to sincerely aim at achieving what verse 21 advocates, then we will invest ourselves, our time and our money into the worship and work of the Lord. My treasure is in heaven, is that evident in every aspect of my life?

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for sacrificing Your precious Son, in spite of those that You know would just ignore You and take Your Treasure for granted. Lord we fool no one else but ourselves when we get ourselves so distracted, and we can’t concentrate on You because of all that we worry about. Too often our ‘treasure’ is misaligned and consumes our attention, and draws us away from giving You our full attention and allegiance. Please continue Your work in me and in the lives of my readers, that we may be so aligned with our greatest ‘TREASURE’ that great works will extend from the hearts and lives of Your children and that You will have full access to our hearts for Your use. I ask this in total humility and in the wonderful name of Jesus, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or read through Biblical truths on How To Know Jesus, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

Invitation and Rewards

On By Ed AlgreenIn Evangelism, Humility, WitnessingLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (Easy-To-Read Version – Revelation 22:12-13; 17): 12 “Listen, I am coming soon! I will bring rewards with me. I will repay everyone for what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Everyone who hears this should also say, “Come!” All who are thirsty may come; they can have the water of life as a free gift if they want it.

THOUGHTS: Depending on who’s pitching a party it could be well attended, because invitees look forward to the eats, drinks and favors that normally abound. In other words, the rewards. Our scripture today is very comforting in many respects and I want us to be encouraged in several ways by what it reveals to us. Through John, God reassures us that He is coming back soon, and that He is bringing rewards with Him. I don’t believe that this is intended to bribe, because throughout the Bible we are told about the hope, the everlasting life, the worship around the throne and the joy that believers in Christ can look forward to when Jesus returns to take His bride with Him. So I believe that this is just reassurance of the promises already given to us in the Word. Now in verses 14 thru 16 we are shown how God will recognize and accept those who claim Him as Lord, but in verse 17 we are encouraged to spread the Word (invite) at every opportunity, for it says that if we hear this call of God to come, we are encouraged to spread this word to those that we come into contact with. The invitation is extended to everyone (ALL) – even those who are parched by the lack of love and understanding from this world, for they will receive refreshment – water that provides life like never experienced before. Friends, notice that there are no conditions or special classes qualified in either of these types mentioned. The Word says that for everyone who hears, they should invite others to come. We tend to feel like that’s the preacher’s job. If you received a gift of money, you wouldn’t wait for the bank to tell everyone, you would be telling everyone how blessed you are financially. Look also at who are filtered from the list of those who can come to satisfy their thirst. The Word specifically reaffirms what was said in John 3:16 – ALL may come to the fountain of life to satisfy their thirst, or as relayed in John “that whosoever believes on Him may have eternal life”. To the Christian, we dare not limit to whom we will share the gospel. To the uncommitted, unsaved, non-believer, be encouraged that this invitation in opened to you. Lay aside the weights (sin) that might be holding you down, and accept the invitation from my Master today, is my humble plea to you. You deserve the best from the King of all kings, and God wants you to have it!

PRAYER: Thank You Father for Your precious and holy Word. Thank You that even right up to the end of the Book Your promise is still there and Your desire to see us in heaven with You is still very real! Thank You for once again reminding Christians to share the Good News, and to be a light in this dark world of sin. A light that represents the Light of the World. Thank You for sharing a message of hope for the lost right up to the end of this great Book. There is hope for us all, and I thank You for thinking of us all. I pray that I might be the messenger of hope that You expect of Your children, so that those that I rub up against might know that my Redeemer lives and is available to them. We are blessed with Your Word, now may we be a blessing to others, is my humble prayer that I ask in the precious name of Jesus, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or read through Biblical truths on How To Know Jesus, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!